Cat Owners Considering Declawing Should Read This
by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Good morning readers. This is an article I hope all cat owner’s will read and pass along to friends. Cat owners considering declawing should read this before it’s too late.
I’m first addressing it to the veterinarians who make a living swindling unsuspecting cat owner’s who haven’t done their research.
Dear declawing veterinarians of America. Since your oath recently changed in November, I thought I’d like to report this change to you and explain some of the wording. Apparently some of you STILL think it’s okay to declaw. So lets begin with an explanation of your new oath. For those of you too ignorant to understand the OLD oath, the changes between the old and the new are in all caps.
“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and WELFARE, the PREVENTION and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.”
I’m going to turn the definitions over to Mr. Miriam-Webster, king of dictionaries. Other definitions, where noted, are from wikipedia.
Let’s start with the word BENEFIT. 1. An act of kindness. 2. Something that promotes well being.(Webster). Declawing vets are NOT benefiting anything except their pocketbooks. Declawing is NOT an act of kindness and doesn’t promote well being!
Moving on to PROTECTION. 1.Supervision or support of one that is smaller or weaker. (Webster). This one burns me up more than anything. Veterinarians are supposed to protect and heal our pets. Declawing is NOT supportive to a cats health. It’s the opposite.
ANIMAL WELFARE is the physical and psychological well being of non-human animals. (wikipedia). Declawing is both physically and psychologically damaging to a cat. Declawing is done for the welfare of the cat owner. Period. And that person doesn’t deserve a cat if the cat has to conform. Maybe my cats have just trained me right. I believe we should conform to our cats or we shouldn’t have them in the first place.
PREVENTION from a medical standpoint refers to measures taken to prevent diseases or injuries rather than curing or treating their symptoms. (wikipedia). Veterinarians who declaw are causing long term problems such as arthritis and neuropathy.
Those are some of the key words used in your oath. Now lets move on to one more thing. PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH. I’m just going to wing it on this one and hope I don’t blow a fuse. How is a declawed cat promoting public health?! A declawed cat will bite because it’s defenses are gone. Bites can cause infection and are much more dangerous than a scratch. A declawed cat will use the litter box in unsanitary places because the litter hurts it’s poor crippled paws. So do NOT say you are promoting public health when you declaw a cat when you are, in fact, doing the opposite!
Cat owners considering declawing should read this article immediately. Then do some more research on the long term effects that come from permanently maiming a cat.
Read this article carefully, because you are falling blindly into your vet’s money bag. Your vet is breaking every part of the oath set forth by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Do yourself a favor and find a vet who doesn’t offer this.
This is a racket, clear and simple. Your vet will get your money at the time of declawing. He will also get much more money over the years as you return again and again to treat declawing related problems. YOU aren’t the winner here and neither is your cat!
If you don’t believe me, please take this article to your vet and ask for an explanation. Show your vet the words I’ve taken the time to look up and explain. Because apparently your vet doesn’t understand any of them if declawing is offered.
Laser declawing is still breaking the oath. Injuries are being caused, not prevented. Psychological and physical harm are being done. Declawing is not an act of kindness. And protection is definitely not being given.
Declawing veterinarians of America, please remember this. EVERY oath a vet takes is broken with this one procedure, regardless of the method used to do it. Can any of you explain why except for financial gain?
I’d like to offer this video in closing. The guest is Paw Project Director Dr. Jennifer Conrad. The video is by Dr. Bonnie Beaver, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association and explains why a cat should NOT be declawed. Why don’t declawing vets know the AVMA’s top people are against declawing? There are plenty of other ways for a vet to make a living without resorting to toe torture!
One of the main points I took away from watching this video is it takes only 11 minutes to declaw a cat and there’s virtually no overhead. Also pay close attention to the part where Dr. Conrad discusses the pain of fourth degree burns caused by laser declawing. I’d never heard of fourth degree burns. READ THIS!
A fourth degree burn is a burn that extends deeply into the subcutaneous tissue, completely destroying the skin, subcutaneous fat, and underlying tendons, and sometimes involving muscle, fascia, or bone. Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.
Readers, here’s the ammunition you need to confront a declawing vet. Using the oath and the video I hope I’ve made a good case. Please send this story to all of your friends with a cat or kitten. Education is key when new owners are faced with those who care more about money than the patients they’ve sworn an oath to heal.
Comments anyone? I believe I’ve made my point in very simple English. Thank you Mr. Webster and wikipedia for your assistance. And thank you to Paw Project Director Dr. Jennifer Conrad.
Cat owners, if you’re considering declawing, DON’T! DON’T GET A CAT! You don’t deserve a cat!
Elisa
Selected Associated Pages:
Rate Veterinarians on Declawing
American Vets are Unethical Towards the Cat (Blogger site – new window)
Source as stated and: http://www.avma.org/